Electrical selector



L. W. OROFOOT 8v THE. GRANGER. ELECTRICAL SELECTOR.

Patented Apr. 26, i898.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ericam LOUIS W. CROFOOT AND FRANK E. GRANGER, OF ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA.

- ELECTRICAL SELECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,895, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed September 14, 1897. Serial No. 651,658. CND model.)

To CLM 'Lc/tom it may concern,.-

Beit known that we, Louis W. CRoEoo'r and FRANK E. GRANGER, citizens ofthe United States, residing 'at Aberdeen, in the county of Brown and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Electrical Selectors, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates `to improvements in machines for electrically selecting out and operating at any point in the same circuit any desired signal or switching device for cutting into or out of a main line or other mechanical device. The selecting of the signal or device is controlled from a central station over a single line of wire by means of a telegraphkey operated by hand or by means of any suitable automatic transmitting instrument, and the signal or other device is operated by a selecting instrument in which a coil-spring is wound up by an electromagnet actuated by the making and breaking of the current at the central station, and the operation is accomplished by the releasing ot the coil-spring when the electrical impulses are stopped at the point of operation of the selecting instrument which it is desired to operate, said operation being accomplished only when the electrical impulses cease at the proper point,

and when continuing beyond that point the coil-spring is released, but the operation is not performed.

The object of our invention is to provide a means for the control of any system of signals, switches, or other mechanical devices from a central station over a single line of wire. W'e attain this object by theme'chanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the selectin g instrument with top plates removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the selecting instrument and shows an ordinary electrical switch mounted on the frame of the selector and the mechanical connectionby which it may be opened and closed. Both views show a selector in a position immediately preceding the point at which it will perform the operation of the signal or device.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout both views, and the drawings represent the full sizes of machines.

The plates 1 l and the posts 2 2 2 croustitute the framework of the selecting instrument which operates the signal or device. One of such instruments is located at each signal or device upon the circuit, and each one is set to operate only at its particular number which corresponds to a number upon the dial of the transmitting instrument at the central station.

The large ratchet-wheel e is fixed upon a shaft, one bearing of which is in the lower plate 1 and the other bearing extends into the post 3, which is fixed rigidly to the top plate 1. This ratchet-wheel 4 is revolved by means of the pawl 5, located on the lever-arm 6, which is attached to and moves with the armature 9 of the electromagnet l0 10, and the movement of the ratchet-wheel is confined to one tooth at each electrical impulse by means of two stop-pins 7 7, attached to lever-arm 6. One of these stop-pins is lodged between two teeth of the ratchet-wheel when the lever-arm is drawn toward the magnet,

Jand the other stop-pin is similarly lodged the surface of the ratchet-wheel 4 within the frame, consisting of the two posts 12 12 and plate 13, and is carried around the main axis of the machine as the ratchet-wheel 4 is revolved. Attached to one of the posts 12 and the shaft of the gear-wheel 14 is a coil-spring 15, which is Wound up by the revolution of the gear-wheel 14E, and the unwinding of the said coil-spring 15 is limited by a stop-pin on the upper surface of the gear-wheel 14 striking against the upper plate 13, a groove being cut on the under side of plate 13 on the opposite side to permit the pin to pass under plate 13 in winding and unwinding.

As shown in the drawings, the coil-spring ICO 15 is wound up by the meshing of the gearwheel 14 with a partially-toothed gear-wheel 16 (which may be denominated the operating-wheel) as it is carried around by the revolution of the ratchet-wheel 4. The operating-wheel 16, from which a portion of the teeth have been removed, turns upon the rigid gpost 3 when the signal or device is operated and at other times is held in a fixed position by a means hereinafter described. The operating-wheel16 has sufficient teeth left upon its circumference so that when the gear-Wheel 14 has traveled its toothed circumference and the signal or device is to be operated the partially-toothed gear-wheel 16 will by the unwinding of the coil-spring 15 be driven forward one-half a revolution when completely released from its fixed position.

The operating-wheel 16 has a pocket or hole in its under surface and is -held in a fixed position by means of one or the other of the two trips 17 17. These trips are hinged to the lower end of the rigid post 3 and are constantly pressed upward against the underside of wheel 16 by means of springs. Near the outer ends of these trips are pins 19 19, one of which always holds the wheel 16 in said fixed position (except when in operation) by being pressed into the pocket in the under side of wheel 16.

The eXtreme outer ends of the trips 17 17 are beveled in such a manner that a trippingpin 20, which is mounted upon the ratchet- Wheel `4, coming in contact with such beveled surfaceswill draw the pin 19 out of the pocket in wheel 16 at a point just before the small gear-wheel 14 escapes from the toothed portion of wheel 16.

Figs. l and 2 show the selecting instrument in a position when the ratchet-wheel 4 in its revolution has carried the tripping-pin 2O against the beveled edge of the trip 17 and at the next electrical impulse the trippingpin 20 will be advanced sufficiently to release the pin 19 from the hole or pocket in the operating-wheel 16, and the operating-wheel 16 will commence to revolve slowly, being retarded by a mechanism hereinafter described.

If the ratchet-wheel 4 stops at that point, the tripping-pin 2O will hold the trip 17 down, so as to allow a small stop-pin 21 (which eX- tends downward from the under side of Wheel 16) to pass over the trip and the wheel16 will be thrown forward one-half a revolution by the unwinding of the coil-spring 15, attached to gear-wheel 14, and the pocket in wheel 16 will receive pin 19 in the opposite trip and the operation of the signal or device will have been completed; but if the ratchet-wheel 4 advances beyond the point, as stated, the tripping-pin 2O passes from the trip 17, which will allow the trip to spring upward, and the stop-pin 2l striking the side of the trip will prevent the further revolution of wheel16. The still further revolution of the ratchetwheel 4 will then allow the gear-wheel 14 to escape from the toothed portion of wheel 16 and the coil-spring 15 and the gear-wheel 14 to unwind, and the wheel 16 will then return to its iixed position and become locked, as before, by a mechanism which will now be described.

Mounted upon the wheel 16, within a framework consisting ot posts 22 22 and top plate 23, is a train of gear-wheels and fly 24 or any other suitable mechanism for governing speed, that shown in drawings forming no part of our invention. To the shaft of the first gear-wheel 25 in said train is attached a small coil-spring 29, the other end of which is attached to the post 22, and to the same shaft is also attached the arm 27, the outer .end of which presses against the post 2 in one position and against the lug 28 in the opposite position. This shaft is also connected with the first wheel 25 of said train by means of a pawl and ratchet in such a manner that when the wheel 16 advances while the arm 27 remains against its outer bearing the train of gear-wheels and fly 24 will be set in motion and the small coil-spring 29 slightly wound up; but when kthe arm 27 escapes from its outer bearing the spring 29 throws the arm forward to its former position without operating the train.

In order to prevent the instrument from operating the signal or device except when stopped at its proper number, the arm 27 is of such length and the train of gears with fly 24 offer such resistance that, before arm 27 escapes from its outer bearing on either side, the revolution of operating-wheel 16 is at rst retarded, so as to allow sufficient time for the ratchet-wheel 4 to advance and carry the tripping-pin 2O off from the trip 17 before the wheel 16 has time to carry its small stop-pin 21 over and past the trip. -When the tripping-pin 2O is` carried beyond the point of tripping and the gear-wheel 14 has escaped from the toothed portion of wheel 16, then the coil-spring 29, by means of the arm 27 pressing against its outer bearing on post 2 or lug 28, will throw the wheel 16 back to its former position, where it will again become locked by the pin 19 entering the pocket of wheel 16.

The operation of all theselecting instruments in the system will be as follows: The electrical impulses transmitted over the line will advance the ratchet-wheels of all selectors alike. Each instrument is set to operate completely when stopped at a certain point in the revolution of its ratchet-wheel. Suppose instrument number 40 is selected out for operation. The transmitting instrument at the central station is put in operation and electrical impulses are transmitted over the line which will advance all the lratchet-wheels of the instruments continuously. Some instru ments will pass their points of operation and others will not reach such points, but it will be seen that none of them will actuate completely the operating-wheel or the mechanism for operating the signal or device while ICO IIO

the impulses continue. The instrument n umber 40 having been selected for operation, the impulses will cease at a point where the tripping-pin 2O of the instrument number 40 will hold the trip down and allow the com plete operation of the selector, and the trippingpins of all other instruments will have either passed beyond the trips or not have reached them and no complete operation of any of the other instruments will take place.

The mechanical connection of the selecting instrument with an electrical switch, signal, or similar device is as follows: Upon the top plate 1 is mounted the signal or device to be operated. From the fulcrum thereof the wings 30 30 extend downward such a length and at such an angle that when the lug 3l, upon the surface of circular plate 23, strikes one of the wings 30 30 at each half-revolution of wheel 16 it will alternately close and open an electrical switch or otherwise operate a signal or device by the oscillating of the arm attached to said fulcrum. When wheel 16 remains in its locked position, the lug 3l stands under one of the wings 30 30, and therebyT locks the switch or device in the position to which it has been thrown until the next operation.

What we claim,- and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1-. In an electrical selecting instrument, a ratchet-wheel, impelled by a succession of electrical impulses and provided with means for limiting its movement to one tooth at each electrical impulse, having mounted upon its surface in an eccentrical position a small gearwheel with a coil-spring attached thereto, in combination with a partiallytoothed gearwheel mounted concentrioally with, but revolvin g independently of, said ratchet-wheel provided with means for being held temporai-ily in a fixed position, with which the teeth of the small gear-wheel will engage as it is being carried around upon4 the ratchet-wheel, said partially-toothed gear-wheel having a sufticient number of teeth to wind up the coilspring sufficiently to furnish the power to do the work required.

2. In an electrical selecting instrument, a ratchet-wheel impelled by a succession of electrical impulses and provided with a means for limiting its movement to one tooth at each electrical impulse, having mounted-upon its surface in an eccentrical position a small gear-wheel with a coil-sprin g attached thereto, a partially-toothed gear-wheel, concentric with the ratchet-wheel but revolving independently, which has a hole or pocket in its surface, in combination with two trips hinged in diametrically opposite positions upon a xed support and constantly pressed by springs against the surface of the partiallytoothed gear-wheel, one or the other of said trips engaging with the hole or pocket in the partially-toothed gear-wheel for the purpose of holding it in one or the other of two diametrically opposite positions, while the small gear-wheel, as it is carried around by the ratchetwheel, engages with its teeth and winds up the coil-spring sufficiently to furnish the power, when released, to impel the partially-toothed gear-wheel forward one-half a revolution, and a means for disengaging the trip from the hole or pocket in said partially-toothed gear-wheel whenever the ratchet-wheel reaches a point in its revolution which is when the coil-spring has been sufciently wound up and before the teeth of the small gear-wheel escape from the teeth of the partially-toothed gear-wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrical selecting instrument, a ratchet-wheel, electrically impelled, provided with means :for limiting its movement to one tooth at each electrical impulse, carrying upon its surface a small gear-wheel, with coil-spring attached thereto which is wound up, as the ratchet-wheel revolves, by the engagement of the small gear-wheel with the teeth of a partially-toothed operating gearwheel, mounted con centrically with said ratchet-wheel, but revolving independently thereof, two trips hinged to stationary supports, in diametrically opposite positions, constantly pressed by springs against the surface of said operating-wheel, and one or the other of said trips, by engagement with the operating-wheel, holding it temporarily in a fixed position, in combination with a tripping device carried upon the surface of said ratchet-wheel, which will engage with said trips, at two diametrically opposite points in its revolution, whereby said operating-wheel is released from the trip and permitted to be thrown forward one-half a revolution, by the nnwinding of the coil-spring, and in a series of like instruments, the ratchet-wheels of which move in unison by the same electrical impulses, theinstrument selected being adjusted to operate at this particular point of the revolution of its ratchet-wheel, will perform its work without operating any of the other instruments in the circuit or system which are adj usted to operate at other points in the revolutions of their ratchet-wheels.

4. In an electrical selecting instrument, two trips hinged in diametrically opposite positions to stationary supports and constantly pressed by springs against the surface of an operating-wheel and holding the same temporarily in a fixed. position, in combination with a ratchet-wheel electrically impelled, means for limiting its movement to one tooth at each electrical impulse, carrying a small gear-wheel upon its surface with coil-spring attached thereto which engages with said operating-wheel while it is held in a fixed position, and a means for engaging and disengaging with said trips at two diametrically opposite points in the revolution of said ratchetwheel, whereby the operating-wheel is at rst released from its fixed position, and a means for retarding the movement of said operatingwheel sufiicient-ly to permit it to become re- IIO engaged with said trips when said trips are' released from their engagement with said ratchet-wheel, and a means for returning said operating-Wheel to its fixed position when it is disengaged from the small gear-wheel, and the coil -spring attached thereto unwinds, without the performance of any Work by the selecting instrument.

5. In an electrical selecting instrument, an operating-Wheel, temporarily held in a Xed position, carrying upon its surface a speedgoverning mechanism which retards the revolutionl of said operating-wheel (when released from its fixed position) by means of a leverarm which has one end attached to the main aXisof said speed-governing mechanism and the other end has a bearing against one of two diametrically opposite fixed standards, actuating the speed-governing mechanism and retardin g the revolution of said operatingwheel as it is being impelled forward, until said lever-arm passes off from its bearing; in combination with a small gear-wheel having a coil-spring attached thereto and mounted upon the surface of a ratchet-Wheel electrically impelled one tooth at each electrical impulse, means for releasing said operatingwheel from its xed position when said ratchet-wheel is stopped in its revolution at a point which will permit the selectin g instrument to perform its work. without affecting any other selecting instrument in the circuit or system.

6. In an electrical selecting instrument an operating-wheel temporarily held in a Xed position, carrying upon its surface a speedgoverning mechanism which retards the revolution of said operating-wheel (when released from its fixed position) by means of a leverarm which has one end attached to the main axis of said speed-governing mechanism and the other end has a bearing against one of two diametrically opposite fixed standards, actuating the speed-governing mechanism and retardin g the revolution of said operating-wheel when it is impelled forward until said leverarm passes off from its bearing; a ratchetwheel with pawl and retractile spring attached to the main wheel and axis of the speedgoverning mechanism, which will throw said lever-arm forward to its normal position when escaping fromrits outward bearing, and return the operating-wheel, with its mounted mechanism, to its normal position when said lever-arm does not escape from its outward bearing; in combination with a small gearwheel with coil-spring attached thereto, and mounted upon the surface of a ratchet-wheel electrically impelled one tooth at each electrical impulse, means for temporarily releasing said operating-wheel from its xed position and means .for stopping and restoring y said operating-wheel to its fixed position when said ratchet-wheel continues to revolve beyond the point of such release and the selecting instrument performs no Work.

LOUIS W'. CROFOOT. FRANK E. GRANGER. 

